Garbage can holder



Sept. 1, 1953 Y G. s. PLATT 2,650,735

' GARBAGE CAN HOLDER Filed May 4, 1951 2 Sheets-,Sheet l 4' 48 V 45'INVENTOR 5 f FIG-I3: GEORGE s. PLATT- 4 |-46 52 32 I al y I IBYwM/nmmommm 52 5| 4o 47 ATTO NEYs Sept. 1, 1953 G. s. PLATT f GARBAGECAN HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1951 INVENTQR GE'ORGE S. PLATTATTORNEYS Patented Sept. l, 1953 fUIITlE-.D STATES PATEN T F F l'fCfE.GARBAGE CAN .HGLDER George S. Platt, Baton Rouge, fLa.Application-Mayall, 1951, fSerial.No..224,528

3 Claims. l

The :present invention Vrelates `to improvements in garbage can .holdersand is .a .continuation-in- -part of my co-pending .application SerialNo. .27,547 led .May 1-7, 1948, now Patent No. 2,555,455, June .5, 1951,and entitled Concrete .Mold

An-object of the presentinventionfis to lprovide an improved device .of.this ycharacter .of such form and .constructionas Ito prevent .thegarbage cans from Abeing overturnedas'by dogs .or other animals.

Another .object of the .present invention is .to provide -an improvedgarbage can 'holder which comprises few parts, `isisturdy, 4iseconomical to manufacture V`and simple `to operate so .that thevmanufacturing costof 4the .device will be low.

.A further object of the present invention 'is to `provide an rimproveddevice .of ltliis kind wherein .a frame .or stand .may Abe mounted `onthe block described in .myabove mentioned izo-,pending applicationand..c.ooperates therewith .to Vmaintain a .garbage can .in .upright.position .and to retain thecover in its closed position against,accidental displacement.

Astill further object of thepresent invention `is to provide an.improved .garbage can 'holder which may .quickly .and easilybeconverted from ,the substantially ,permanent installation on thevblock-mentioned aboveinto `a portable unit.

The present invention contemplates the .provision of an improvedstructure having a can vholding member which `may "be adjusted toaccommodatecans of various diameters.

The present 'invention further 'contemplates the provision of animproved garbage Vcan holder wherein -a top `hold-down and supportmember nis vprovided which may -be adjusted to -lit cans of `variousheights and diameters.

the invention will be hereinafter more Afully described and moreparticularly pointed-outin the appended claims.

`In the drawings, in which .the .-same .parts .are denoted by the samereferenceinumeralsthroughout ithe several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view .of :the improved device constructedin accordance `withthe present invention with parts Ibrokenaway Vand -insectionand showing in phantom lines a garbage -can supported thereby,

Figure 2 is afront elevational View of the improved device withpartsbroken away and illustrating aigarbage can supported thereby,

:Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe lower portion of 'the improveddevice,

Figure 4 Lis a ,perspective view of the `garbage .can top'hold-,downandsupport member,

Figure '5 iis a sectional view taken on the line .5-5 `of Figure '4,

"Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on 'the line .6-6 ofFigure 5 Figure7 is .a perspective view of one of the brackets for supporting .the canLholding member,

`Figure 8 is asectional view taken on the line 'i3-43 of Figure'.,

.Figure 9 is a perspectiveiview of a base block .and illustrating `themanner of mounting 'the Vframe thereon with parts -broken away and insection,

Figure `10 is a sectional .view .taken on the line t0- T8 of 'Figure 2,

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 2,

Figure '1'2 is a sectional view taken on 'the line v,i12-42 of .FigureJ3, and

Figure '13 `is asectional view taken on the line l.3-l3 of Figure'3.

.Referring more particularly .to 'the drawings, t0 indicates avpair of`supporting wheels 'which aremounted .on lthe opposite end portions ofvan Vaxle l I `for rotationtherewith. Asleeve :l2 loosely vsurrounds the'axle "l1 inwardly of the wheels 10. Abase generally indicated as 13 anda main frame generally indicated as |"4 are supported by the wheels 10.

The 4base .I3 comprises a base plate l5 and a substantially '.U-shapedbase frame having 'legs "I6 and `aclosedencl portion H which'maybe oftubular formation. l'hebaseplate l5 may be Yof .any suitable material,such as steel 'or Athe like andmay be secured to the upper faces of theclosed lend piortion I1 and the forward end por- .tions ofz'the'legs i6.by welding or theilike. 'At the rear edge ofthe base plate .t5 the legs16 have intermediateportions "IS which arebent'upwardly atan angle offthe order .of 45 degrees vto the 'forward .endportions of the legs 16.The free endportions t9 ofthelegs 'i6 extend rearwardly `from "the upperrear ends of 'the intermediate .and its .forward iedge .corners .may'.be 4rounded to Ktwn'forrnzto the :rounded formation of sthe :legs .l`6and .the portion ill vwl1'e1ef-tl1ey merge tto plimi- 3 nate any sharpcorners which might inflict damage or injury to persons clothing or tothe person.

The main frame I4 is substantially U-shaped and comprises a pair ofspaced apart substantially parallel standards the upper ends of whichare connected by a handle 2| which may be longitudinally arcuate, anupper brace 22 having its opposite ends secured to the inner faces ofthe opposite end portions of the handle and a lower brace 23 having itsopposite ends secured to the inner faces of the standards 20intermediate their ends. The upper end portions of the standards 20 maybe curved rearwardly and upwardly as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.The standards, the handle and the braces may be of tubular formation andmay be made of steel or any other suitable material.

An elongated foot 24`is secured to the lower end of each standard 20 bywelding or the like and may be substantially arcuate in cross section toconform to the contour of the upper surface of its tubular rear endportions I9 of each leg I6 on which it rests and to which it isattached. Threaded bolts 25 extend through suitable aligned openings ineach foot 24 and each rear end portion I9 of the legs I6 and nuts 26'are threaded upon the extended threaded portions of the bolts 25 toclamp the feet 24 and the portions I9 firmly together.

A clamping plate 21 is associated with each rear end portion I6 of thelegs I6 and each foot 24 and has a substantially centrally disposedrecess 28 for receiving one end portion of the sleeve I2. Each clampingplate 21 has openings through which extend the threaded extendedportions of the bolts 25. Nuts 29 are threaded upon the portions of thebolts which protrude downwardly beyond the clamping plates 21 so thatthe plates 21 will iirmly clamp the sleeves A outer contour of a garbagecan or the like. The bands have intermediate portions 33 which ex- Y ntend inwardly and rearwardly from the rear` ends of the forward portionsof the bands in converging relation to one another for engaging theouter surface of the can to prevent rearward movement of the can whenpositioned upon the base plate I5.

Each band has a rear end portion 34 which extends outwardly andrearwardly at an angle to the intermediate portions 33 and terminatesyat its free end in a knuckle 35 which receives the upwardly bent freeend portion 36 of bracket arms 31. The opposite end of each bracket armis secured as by welding or the like to a split ring clamp 38 which hasapertured ears 39. Each of the split ring clamps 38 encircles one of thestandards 20 and is vertically adjustable thereon. Each clamp 38 may beheld in the desired adjusted position by a threaded bolt 40 and nut 4|.Each rear end portion 34 of the bands 3| and 32 are prevented fromescaping from the portions 36 of the bracket arms 31 by cotter pins 42or the like which are received by suitable openings 43 formed in theportions 36.

The forward end portions of the bands 3| and 32 are disposed inoverlapping engaging relation to one another as illustrated in Figure 3of the 4 drawings and are provided with aligned slots 44. Theoverlapping slotted end portions of the bands are adapted to haverelative horizontal movement for changing the size of the can receivingspace deiined by the bands 3| and 32 for accommodating cans of differentdiameters.

A guide 45 is secured to the band 32 inwardly of the inner end of theslot 44 of the band 32 by a rivet 46 or the like. As shown in Figure 13of the drawings the rivet extends through the guide 45 and the band 32and has its inner head rec'eived by the slot 44 of the other band 3|.The guide 45 is substantially U-shaped and has its legs 41 extendingacross and in engagement with the upper and lower edges of the bands 3|and 32. Each leg 41 has its free end portion turned inwardly asindicated at 48 to overlie and engage the inner face of the band 3|.

A similarly U-shaped guide 49 is secured to the band 3| inwardly of theinner end of the slot 44 of the band 3| by a rivet 50 or the like. Asshown in Figure 12 of the drawings the rivet 50 extends through theguide 49 and the band 3| and has its inner head received by the slot 44of the other band 32. The legs 5| extend outwardly across and inengagement with the upper and lower edges of the bands 3| and 32. Eachleg 5| has its free end portion turned inwardly as indicated at 52 tooverlie and engage the outer face of the band 32.

A threaded stud 53 is carried by the base plate I5 adjacent the forwardedge thereof and intermediate the side edges of the plate. The stud 53extends upwardly through and above an elongated slot 54 formed in a foot55 of an upstanding adjusting bar 56 which has a plurality of verticallyaligned spaced apart openings 51. A thumb nut 53a is received by thestud 53 to clamp the foot 55 and the bar 5'6 rigidly in place on thebase plate I5. A threaded bolt 58 extends through the slots 44 of thebands 3| and 32 and is adapted to be selectively received by one of theopenings 51 of the bar 56. A wing nut 59 is threaded upon the extendedthreaded end of the bolt 58 for clamping the bands 3| and 32 and the bar56 tightly together to hold the bands in their desired vertical adjustedposition. This clamping action will also serve to hold the bands 3| and32 in their desired relatively overlapped positions.

Upstanding adjusting arms 60 and 60a have their lower edges secured to abase plate 60D which is secured by welding or the like to the uppersurface of the lower brace 23. The arms 60 and 60u. have a plurality ofvertically aligned spaced apart screw threaded holes 6| adapted toselectively receive a screw threaded pivot 62 which extends through asuitable aperture in the rear end portion of a link 63. A nut 64 isreceived by the extended threaded end of the pivot 62 to retain the link63 in pivotal relation to the arms 60 and 60a. An upper strap 65 istwisted adjacent its rear end as indicated at 66 to provide an attachingportion 61 by which the strap 65 is pivotally connected to the forwardend portion of the link 63. A pivot 68 which may be in the form of arivet or the like extends through aligned openings in the link 63 andthe attaching portion 61 of the strap 65.

A substantially U-shaped bracket 69 has the free edges of its legssecured as by welding or the like to the under face of the upper strap65 forwardly of the twisted portion 66. A lower strap 10 has the underface of its rear end portion secured as by welding or the like to theupper face of the connecting portion of the bracket'!) soi-thattheilower strap 'I0 is supported in spaced apart parallel relation tothe upper strap L65 with -the free ends of the strapssubstanti.ally-flush with one another.

A-keeper 'li which may bein theform of a. substantially rectangular`open frame embraces the free endportion of the upper strap 65 and ispivotally mounted thereon adjacent the free end thereof. For-'thispurpose the strap IE5 has a pair of apertured lugs 12 'depending fromits lower face at opposite edges'thereof and a rivet I3 or the likeextends through each lug 72 and lthe adjacent side of the keeper -'iI.The keeper `-II -is of such a height that, when-in its operativeposition as Vshown Vin Figures 4. 5 and 6 of the -drawingsfthe top ofthekeeper will be substantially parallel to and spaced from the upper faceof the upper strap E5, the bottom of the keeper will-bein engagementwith the under face of the lower strap li) and the sides of the keeperwill engagethe opposite side edges of the straps 65 anali).

A leaf spring 'i4 has its rear end portion attached to the upper `faceof the strap by a vrivet l5, or the like and the free end portion of thespring bears` against the top of the keeper jl'I to retain the keeper inits operative or inoperative position. A substantially U-shaped springcatch 76 is secured by welding or the like to the upper-brace 22intermediatethe ends thereof and has a pair of resilient arms whichextend forwardly and normally iieX towards one another and are adaptedto receive therebetween the strap 65 when in'its raised position.

`In the use of the device, assuming that the straps i5 and 10 are intheir raised positions and that the strap 65 is disposed between theresilient arms of the catch T6 and that the wing nut 5d is loosened, agarbage can 'l1 or the like will `be placed on the base plate l5 betweenthe bands 3l and 32. r{"ne bands 3| and 32 will be moved towards oneanother to tightly grip `the outer surface of the can 'I1 to preventhorizontal and vertical movementof the can with respect to the baseplate.

'Whenthe bands have been properly adjusted the wing nut 53 will bescrewed home to bind the bands between the head of the bolt 58 and theadjusting bar 56 to prevent horizontal and vertical movement of thebands. The bands 3I and 32 may be adjusted vertically with respect tothe base plate I5 to accommodate cans of various heights by removing thewing nut 59 from the bolt 5B and inserting the bolt in another of theopenings 5 1. of the bar 56 and replacing the wing nutr on the bolt toclamp the bands in the new position. In order .to coordinate the heightof the rear portions of the bands 3| and 32 to the newly selectedvertical position of the forward portions the nuts 4I on the bolts 40will be loosened and the split ring clamps 38 will be slid inthe properdirection and distance in accordance with the newly selected position ofthe for- Wrd end porti-ons of the bands. The nuts 4I will then betightened to hold the clamps 3S in the desired adjusted position.

The straps and 'I0 will then be lowered to the level of the hand grip 18of the cover i9 of the canl 'H and the straps 65 and '1.0 will be movedrearwardly until the free ends thereof are positioned rearwardly of therhand grip 18. The top portion of the keeper 'II will be swungArearwardly againstthe bearingdown action ofthe spring 'i4 6 unto thetcpof thekeeper engagsthe upper strap '65 at which time the'lowerportion ofthe keeper -will have swung forwardly and upwardly to clearthe-space between the straps B5 and 10.

The straps will then be moved forwardly so that the handengaging portionof the hand grip is received bythespace between 'the straps and thelower strap engages the under face-of the portion 80 of the hand grip.The keeper '-lvI .will -then be -moved to the position shown in Figures4. 5 and 6 ofthe drawings Vto confine 'the hand grip within the spacebetween the straps. The bearing down tension of the spring -14 will-retain the keeper in its operative position. The bracket @9 willprevent the escape of the hand grip i8 from between -the straps at therear end thereof.

In order to accommodate Vcovers of various diameters and cans ofdifferent heights the link' 63 may be selectively connected to the armsBD and eil/L at the different holes 6I. By virtue of the flexibleconstruction and arrangement of the adjusting arms 69 and avthe link 63and the straps 55 and 70, the strapscan move in subiv stantiallyvertical plane so that they can lift .a iianged type of cover asillustrated in Figures '1 and 2 of the drawings or any otherconventional type of can cover. The straps 65 and '10, the link 33 andthe arms 60 and '60u will not only cooper ate in the lifting of the cancover k:'19 but comprise a can hold-down member which Willretain hecover in its closed position on the can and will also assist inmaintaining the can in its' proper upright position. The bands 3| and.32 may be removed for repair or replacement by removing the cotter pins42and the bolt 58. l

In Figure l of thedrawings the device is shown in-its position of restwith the `forward edge Iportion of the base I3 engaging the ground A orother supporting surface. The device with the can il positioned thereonmay be moved from one location to another by the operato1 'grasping thehandle 2i and pulling towards himself so that the forward edge portionof the base I3 will be swung upwardly on the wheels I0 out o f engage-`ment with the ground A and pushed on its wheels to thenew location. YThedevice may also be used inthe same manner as a conventional type handtruck for transporting other articles, such as sacks of grain and thelike, by moving the straps d5' and ill to their raised position and ifdesired the bands 3I and A32 may be removed as above described. l

If desired the device may be converted into a permanent installation bythe removal ofy the wheels lil and the base I3 and the substitution of ablock 8l of the kind disclosed in my above mentioned co-pendingapplication.

The block may be of stepped formation to pro-I vide an upwardly facingledge d2 which extends around the entire circumference of the block.'l'fhe ledge S2 is provided with horizontally aligned bolt holes 83 onopposite sides of the block. The block has an interior annular upwardlyfacing shoulder S4 which forms the bottom of a can receiving recess 85.The block k3| may be posi-v tioned upon the ground at anydesiredlocation and the base I3 and the bands. 3l and 32 are' removedfrom the standards 20.

The bands are removed by withdrawing the cotter vpins 42 and the wingnut 5.9 and bolt 58 and the base I3 is removed by removal ofthe nutsZie-and 26 and the withdrawal of thebolts25 from the clamping plate 21and the portions I9 ofthe legs lil of the base I3. The feet 24 of thestandards will then be positioned upon the ledge 82 at opposite sides ofthe block 8| with one of the openings in each foot in alignment with oneof the bolt holes 83 to receive one of the bolts 25 which extendsupwardly through the hole 83 in the block and through the aperture inthe foot 24. The nuts 29 are threaded upon the upper ends of the bolts25 and into frictional engagement with the feet 24.

The garbage can 11 will be positioned with its lower end portiondisposed within the rec-ess 85 of the block 8| and the bottom of the canresting upon the shoulder 84. The straps 65 and 10 will `be applied tothe hand grip 1B of the can cover 19 in the manner described above. Ifdesired additional bolt holes 83 may be provided in the ledge 82 for thereception of additional bolts 25.

In order to permit the bands 3| and 32 to be disengaged from the guides45 and 49,'the bands 3| and 32 are provided adjacent their free endswith notches 3 Ia and 32a, respectively, which are of greater depth thanthat of the portions 48 and 52. When it is desired to separate the bandsthey will be slid upon one another until the notches 3 Ia are broughtinto registry with the portions 48 of the guide 45 and the notches 32aare brought into registry with the portions 52 of the guide 49. Thebands will then be moved away from one another to effect the separation.

When the forward overlapped ends of the bands 3|, 32 are moved together,the circle of such bands will be constricted or reduced in diameter fora smaller sized can; and when the overlapped forward ends of the bands3|, 32 are shifted outwardly relatively to one another, the diameter ofthe circle of the bands 3|. 32 will be expanded or enlarged for cans ofgreater diameter. Incident to this constriction or expansion, the rearends 34 of the bands are obliged to partake of a small angular movementabout the pivots 36. Assuming that the forward overlapped ends of thebands 3|, 32 are anchored fixedly to the vertical adjusting bar 56, whenthe bands are constricted, the knuckle ends 35 must move forwardly,which action is permitted by the angular adjustment of the brackets 31about the standards 20. This is accomplished by loosening the nuts 4Iwhich are tightened after the adjustment is effected. Consequently, thepivots 36 about which the rear ends 34, 35 of the bands 3 I, 32 arecarried, can partake of a bodily movement forwardly and rearwardly byreason of the fact that the clamps 3B are rotatably mounted about thevertical standards 20. These clamps 3-8 also have a vertical movement upand down posts 20 to accord with the vertical adjustment provided by theapertures 51 in the vertical clamping bar 56 at the forward portion ofthe bands 3|, 32.

In case the circle of the bands 3|, 32 is expanded or enlarged indiameter, the rear ends 34', 35 will be forced to some extent backwardlyand the brackets 31 and clamps 38 may be angularly adjusted in arearward direction about the standards to compensate for this expansionwithout causing undue outward bulging of the side portions of the bands3|, 32.

Cooperating to this same end is the forward and rear adjustment of thevertical adjusting bar 56 provided by the slot 54 in foot 55. In otherwords, when the circle of the bands 3|, 32 is enlarged, the verticaladjusting bar 56 may be adjusted forwardly and when the circle of thebands 3|, 32 is narrowed, the vertical adjusting bar 56 may be movedrearwardly to a desired extent. To secure extremely accurate and fineadjustment of the bands 3|, 32 to the sides of cans of widely varyingdiameter, the vertical adjusting bar 56 will be adjusted accordinglyeither forwardly or rearwardly and simultaneously the bracket arms 31will be angularly adjusted rearwardly or forwardly about the verticalstandards 20. Due to the fact that the pivots 36 are carried by thebrackets 31 in offset relation to the axis of rotary adjustment of thebrackets 31, such pivots 36 may be moved bodily or through movement oftranslation forwardly or rearwardly individually or in accompanimentwith similar forward and rear adjusting movements of the verticaladjusting bar 56 at the front of the device.

Both of these concurrent adjustments are related to the xed frame whichcarries the base I5 on which the can rests in its proper relation to thebands 3|, 32, and to the frame of which the vertical standards 20 arepart. This frame carries the base I5. The base I5 carries in a speciedrelation, namely, at its forward portion, the vertical adjusting bar 56.Thus the frame parts 20, the can support I5, which incidently is alsothe support for the vertical adjusting bar 56, all cooperate together toorient the can in proper position between the bands 3|, 32. Moreover, asthe bands are constricted for smaller diameter cans, the verticaladjusting bar 56 may be moved rearwardly on the supporting base |5 andthe brackets 31 may be swung rearwardly so that small diameter cans arenot left on the outer portion of the platform or base I5 but are broughtto a closer position with respect to the axle II whereby in a truck ofthis character, the load may be more readily lifted for wheeledtransportation than if the can were held at a point on the base |5outwardly or remote from the axle I I.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modiiications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

l. A can holding device comprising a wheeled frame including uprightstandards, a base carried by said frame forwardly of the wheels forreceiving a can, part-circular bands extending above said platform andhaving their forward ends overlapped and movable relatively to contractor enlarge the diameter of the circle of the bands to accommodate cansof varying sizes, an adjusting bar at the forward portions of said base,means for clamping the overlapped forward ends of the bands to fixedvertical positions on said adjusting bar, means for adjusting saidadjusting bar forwardly and rearwardly upon said base to agree withvarious degrees of overlapping of the forward ends of said bands, saidbands having separated rear ends, pivots for the rear ends of saidbands, and brackets vertically and angularly adj ustable on saidstandards carrying said pivots for vertical and forward and rearwardbodily adjusting movement.

2. A can holding device comprising a wheeled frame including uprightstandards, a can-supporting platform on the frame extending forwardlyfrom the wheels, an adjusting bar mounted for forward and rearwardadjusting movement on the outer portion of said base, part-circularbands having their forward ends overlapped and relatively slidable foraltering the diameter of the circle of the bands, means for securingsaid overlapped ends of the bands in adjusted position to said adjustingbar, the rear ends of said bands being separated, brackets angularlyadjustable about said standards, said brackets and rear ends of saidbands being pivoted together on axes displaced irom the axes of angularadjustment of the brackets about said standards to provide bodilymovement of the pivoted rear ends of said bands forwardly and rearwardlyto compensate for adjustment of the diameter of the circle of the bands.

3. A can holding device comprising can-embracing bands slidable on oneanother at their front end portions to t cans of varying sizes andhaving separated rear ends, pivots for the rear ends of the bands,angularly adjustable rear supports for the pivots to permit bodilymovement of the pivots forwardly and rearwardly in ac- 10 companiment tothe contracting and expanding adjusting of said bands, and a frontsupport for the front portions of the bands.

GEORGE S. PLAT'I.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 301,916 ONiel July 15, 1884 978,344 Wirt Dec. 13, 19101,269,145 Wright June 11, 1918 1,280,584 Tate Oct. 1, 1918 1,544,356Spaeth June 30, 1925 2,078,119 Benedict Apr. 20, 1937 2,466,416 GrimsleyApr. 5, 1949 2,471,257 Blank May 24, 1949

